BY ANGELA R. KIURA
Over 51,000 small-scale tea farmers in Kirinyaga and Embu counties are set to benefit from a new six-month training programme by the Rainforest Alliance under the Mount Kenya Sustainable Landscape and Livelihoods (MUSULLI) Project.
Dubbed “Pesa Mfukoni”, the initiative aims to boost agribusiness knowledge, promote crop diversification, and strengthen environmental conservation among farmers in the region.
Rainforest Alliance Country Director Marion Ng’ang’a, speaking during a launch event in Kirinyaga, said more than 20,000 farmers have already received training in collaboration with eight tea factories.
The programme focuses on four core areas: human rights and gender mainstreaming, financial literacy and agribusiness management, alternative farming ventures, and home economics to improve food security.
“Our goal is to make farmers more resilient by reducing overdependence on tea and coffee,” Ng’ang’a stated. “We are equipping them with practical tools for agribusiness, while promoting sustainable practices that protect the fragile ecosystems they rely on.”
Ng’ang’a highlighted the urgent need for environmental conservation amid the growing threat of climate change, which she warned is already shrinking viable land for tea and coffee.
She also urged women and youth to take leadership in agribusiness, noting they comprised over 70% of trainees in previous sessions.
As part of the initiative, each participating tea factory will receive a KSh1 million revolving fund to support farmer-led projects.
MUSULLI Project Officer Alan Kinuthia noted that farmers are embracing ventures such as beekeeping, avocado farming, and tea packaging to diversify income and increase climate resilience.
“Thumaita Tea Factory is now engaged in beekeeping, Kathangarii has invested in tea packaging, while Ndima Tea Factory is rolling out a large-scale Hass avocado project,” Kinuthia said.
“These activities are helping farmers to build resilience and secure alternative markets,” he added.
At Ndima Factory alone, 28,000 certified Hass avocado seedlings are being distributed to farmers, with plans to link them to reliable buyers and provide technical support.
Ndima Factory Vice Chairman Muchiri Wachira welcomed the programme, saying it promotes modern, cost-effective farming techniques and reduces reliance on outdated methods.
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Lilian Nyawira, a local farmer from Ndima, praised the training for transforming her livelihood. “We were taught how to save, invest, and diversify,” she said. “Now I have another income stream aside from tea, which gives me peace of mind.”
Ng’ang’a added that the long-term goal is to cultivate a new generation of skilled farmers, encouraging peace and unity at the family level to support development and reduce rural poverty.
The MUSULLI project will continue training sessions across the Mt. Kenya region, aiming to improve livelihoods, protect the environment, and boost Kenya’s agribusiness sector.
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